A Hooker’s History

 

You know her, you love her—this month, we’re shining the spotlight on arguably the most legendary of our fleet, the 48’ G&S custom sportfisher: The Hooker.

Built in 1985 in Destin FL. she was designed with one purpose in mind: to fish hard and fish well. It didn’t take long for her to prove her mettle, eventually becoming part of the iconic mothership program alongside The Madam. Together, this duo changed the game, traveling the world to explore remote fisheries and chase billfish seasons long before it became the industry standard.

The Hooker‘s resume is truly in a league of its own. Over a storied career spanning more than 20 countries, she has helped anglers secure an incredible 87 IGFA world records, the vast majority on light and ultralight tackle.

Today, that record-breaking DNA is still very much alive at her final home with us at Casa Vieja Lodge. While she no longer crosses oceans as a tender, The Hooker is perfectly at home in the equally famous waters of Guatemala.

Joining our fleet on January 15, 2021, our late, great Captain David Salazar acquired this legendary vessel direct from Captain Skip Smith; who had famously ran it originally back alongside The Madam in 1989, and had recently brought her fully back to life in 2016.

Stepping aboard The Hooker today isn’t just another day on the water—it’s a chance to fish on a true legend. Whether it’s raising billfish easily into the hundreds, or helping guests experience our iconic world-class billfishing, The Hooker continues to do exactly what she was built to do: raise fish and put anglers on the bite of a lifetime.

Every excursion on The Hooker carries the weight of her history, serving as a reminder that you are fishing aboard a vessel that has seen it all, done it all, and is still adding chapters to a story that’s far from over. Come join us at Casa Vieja Lodge and experience this legend for yourself.

 

 

DON’T   WAIT   OR   HESITATE

There is a rhythm to the seasons here at Casa Vieja Lodge, and right now, the momentum is moving faster than ever. As we look ahead to next year (and beyond), the calendar is filling up at an incredible pace. We’ve already seen a massive surge in interest, and many of our prime dates for the 2026–2027 season are already spoken for.

If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to secure your spot in the cockpit, this is your sign: don’t wait or hesitate.

Currently, our availability is looking like this:
• November 2026: 80% Sold Out
• December 2026: 70% Sold Out
• January 2027: 80% Sold Out
• February 2027: 100% Sold Out for 3-day trips (limited 2-day trips remaining!)
• March 2027: 80% Sold Out

We are thrilled to see so many familiar faces (and hopefully some new ones!) planning their next adventure with us. If the above numbers are causing a tiny but of alarm, we suggest checking out dates for Summer!

Summer Fishing in Guatemala is fantastic because the weather isn’t much hotter or cooler than any other time in the Guatemalan Pacific, our beautiful offshore stays fairly consistent in its temperatures year round.

The bite is world-class, the fleet is ready, and the memories are waiting to be made. Whether you’re eyeing a quick getaway or a multi-day marathon, contact the lodge today to lock in your preferred dates before they’re gone.

Let’s get you on the water—book your 2026/2027 trip today!

 

 

Pack your gear, not the plastic.

Your Casa Vieja Lodge adventures change, our YETI rambler selection…really doesn’t—don’t get us wrong, we love swag too, but there’s only so much space in your home for the same CVL tumbler dozens of times.

Therefore in the spirit of Earth Day 🌎starting this month were offering FREE engraving on any returning Casa Vieja Lodge gear! That’s right, bring your old YETI rambler back from any previous trip(s) here to see us and we’ll put a new engraving on it, for FREE!

Whether you’re marking a new personal best or just freshening up your favorite bottle, we’re ready to add the next chapter to your collection.

 

 

April Fishing Report

April has been a whirlwind of excitement over here, anglers!

Overall this month we saw 3,546 sailfish raises, 2,870 sailfish bites, and 1,996 sailfish releases! PLUS 46 marlin raises, 34 marlin bites, and 24 marlin releases! Also this month we saw a big influx of mahi-mahi! Several boats, like the Afinity, Rum Line, and Release all saw up to 30 mahi-mahi in a single day; with Makaira seeing 31!

If you’d like to see these killer numbers for yourself, check out the awesome Fishing Counter on our homepage! There you’ll see our total Billfishing Release numbers for 2026, plus the last several years as well!

Below are our fishing highlights (combination of conventional & fly):

• • April 1^st-11^th & 17^th-22^nd, Afinity (39′ Billy Knowles) with Capt. Franz Hoffman, had 212 raises, 193 bites, 122 sailfish releases, 7 marlins raised, and 6 marlin bites, 3 marlin releases, 1 tuna & 136 mahi-mahi!
  • April 1^st-24^th, Chilero (38′ Warren O’Neal) with Capt. Nico Melendrez had 420 raises, 227 bites, 180 sailfish releases, plus 4 marlin raise, 2 marlin bites, 1 marlin release, 1 tuna & 25 mahi-mahi!
  • April 1^st-25^th, Makaira (37′ Rybovich) with Capt. Jeffrey Garcia, had 363 raises, 309 bites, 222 sailfish releases, 4 marlins raised, 4 marlin bites, 3 marlin released plus 1 tuna & 99 mahi-mahi!
  • April 1^st-25^th, Poco Loco (47′ Nickerson) with Capt. Carlos Alvarenga, had 325 raises, 285 bites, 217 sailfish releases, 6 marlins raised, 6 marlin bites, and 4 marlin releases, plus 8 tuna & 21 mahi-mahi!
  • April 1^st-25^th, The Hooker (48′ G&S) with Capt. Jono Arena, had 454 raises, 352 bites, 259 sailfish releases, 9 marlin raises, and 6 marlin bites, and 4 marlin releases, 4 tuna & 52 mahi-mahi!
  • April 1^st-26^th, Pica Más (48′ Whiticar) with Capt. Nicho Alvarenga, had 417 raises, 352 bites & 240 sailfish releases, 1 marlins raised, 1 wahoo, & 15 tuna!
  • April 1^st-27^th, Release (37′ Merritt) with Capt. Sammy Baires, had 337 raises, 310 bites, 190 sailfish releases, 2 marlin raises,  1 marlin bites, 1 marlin releases, plus 10 tuna & 54 mahi-mahi!
  • April 1^st-27^th, Finest Kind (40′ Whiticar) with Capt. Benji Bairez, had 499 raises, 398 bites, 272 sailfish releases, 3 marlins raised, and 2 marlin bites, 2 marlin releases; plus 1 jack, & 48 mahi-mahi!
  • April 1^st-27^th, Rum Line (40′ Gamefisherman) with Capt. Terry Brennan, had 386 raises, 330 bites, 228 sailfish releases, 7 marlin raises, 4 marlin bites, 3 marlin releases; plus 38 tuna!
  • April 2^nd-21^st, La Chingona (43′ Merritt) with Capt. Jose Alvarenga, had 509 raises, 476 bites, 250 sailfish releases, 8 marlins raised, and 7 marlin bites, and 2 marlin releases; plus 6 tuna